In the summer of 1814 a squadron of Royal Navy ships attacked the tiny Connecticut seaport of Stonington, and declared its intention of destroying the town. Over the next four days the British barraged the nearly defenseless civilian population with some fifty tons of explosives, before mysteriously upping anchor and sailing away. Drawing on contemporary news accounts, secret Royal Navy correspondence, and other primary sources, de Kay investigates events leading up to the attack and recounts the exciting details of the battle.